Rotary South Pacific Conference Program 

30 October – 1 November 2026

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Pre-Conference Leadership Program

Tuesday-Thursday, 27–29 October 

Governor Learning & Development Program

Led by PDG Ingrid Waugh

Governor Forums, leadership sessions and sponsored Governor dinners.

Friday, 30 October 

Morning – Pre-Conference Ancillary Events 

  • Multi-District Organisation Annual General Meetings
  • The Rotary Foundation Workshop with Trustee Gordon McInally (ticketed event)
  • AKS Lunch (invitation)
  • RDU Board Meeting
  • Regional Council Meeting
 

Afternoon & Evening – Conference Opening

  • Official Welcome & Welcome to Country
  • Regional and Civic Welcome
  • Flag Ceremony
  • Keynote Address: RIPE Larry Lunsford
  • Theme Address: (announcement coming soon)
  • Entertainment
  • Fellowship Dinners

Saturday, 31 October

Morning – PEOPLE

  • Presidents Breakfast with RIPE Larry Lunsford (ticketed event)
    (Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect & Nominees)
  • Keynote Address: Closing the Gap, (announcement coming soon)
  • Rotary Project Case Study: Ending Trachoma in Australia, Robert McGuirk, Rotary Club of Melbourne
  • Panel: Building Community Resilience - Rotary's Role, (announcement coming soon)
  • Rotary South Pacific Update: Membership Focus
 

Morning & Afternoon - PLANET

  • Keynote Address: Water at the Heart of Community Resilience, Bridget Teirney MSc, BEng (Hons)
  • Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
  • Entertainment
  • Keynote Address: Building Climate Resilient Futures in the Pacific, (announcement coming soon)
  • Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
  • Rotary South Pacific Update: Partnerships Focus
  • Breakout Sessions: People / Planet / Peace – Rotary’s Call to Action
 

Afternoon & Evening

End Polio Now Walk (ticketed event) - Raising awareness and support for Rotary’s global eradication effort
Hosted by End Polio Now Coordinator PDG Amanda Wendt
 
The Rotary Foundation Major Donor Event (invitation)
Hosted by Endowment & Major Gift Adviser PDG Wendy Protheroe
 
Saturday Conference Dinner
Theme Announcement Coming Soon - A celebration of service, leadership and regional fellowship.
Hosted by PDG Michael Lapina
 

Catering

Conference registration includes:
  • morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
  • lunch on Saturday
  • Delegates will not get a takeaway lunch at the end of the conference on the Sunday. Lunch on Sunday is "own arrangements".
Full conference plus dinner registration includes Saturday dinner.
 
Saturday dinner tickets may also be purchased separately.

Sunday, 1 November

Morning - PEACE

  • In Memoriam
  • Keynote Address: Peace in the Age of Information Warfare, Associate Professor Sebastian Kaempf, Rotary Peace Centre, University of Queensland
  • Rotary Project Case Study: (announcement coming soon)
  • Breakout Sessions: People / Planet / Peace – Rotary’s Call to Action
  • Closing presentations and reflections, entertainment.
 
Conference will close no later than 1:30PM

Catering

Conference registration includes:
  • morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
  • Delegates will not get a takeaway lunch at the end of the conference on the Sunday. Lunch on Sunday is "own arrangements".